FOUR DAYS

Sarah wore a smile ear to ear as she bounced around Merlotte's, her pony tail swaying as she moved from table to table, laughing and chatting with the patrons. Most were regulars that she knew by name – as seemed to always be the case in Bon Temps – and there seemed to be only one word on their lips.

Marriage.

Her union with Eric was only days away, and it was the talk of the town. There had been only two weddings between a human and a vampire in Bon Temps since the new laws had been passed, and each ceremony had been the talk of the town. First it was Sookie and Bill, then Jessica and Hoyte, and in just four days Sarah would be walking down the aisle towards the man – and vampire – of her dreams.

She couldn't wait to be Mrs Northman.

'–just a few more days now…'

'–can't wait to see the dress!'

'–I hear it's going to be a beautiful ceremony…'

She just kept smiling, only giving teasing details before walking to the next table. The dinner rush wasn't lengthy, with new bus boy Alex heading off by eight, leaving Sarah and Sookie the easy job of serving the stragglers. Between orders, they would stand at the bar, whispering about the wedding, excited after the final dress fittings they had attended earlier in the day. The group had squealed with delight as they stood in front of a mirror wall, hand in hand in their dresses, seeing bride and bridesmaids together for the first time.

Lafayette was in the window to the kitchen, acting as lookout whilst he joined in with the conversation as Sarah, Sookie and Tara gossiped and giggled, glad that Sam was in his office doing paperwork. He was excited for the wedding, being one of the groomsmen, but he did frown upon their leaning, no matter how many times they insisted on its importance as related to final preparation.

'Why, Sam! Glad to see you have emerged from the confines of your office,' Lafayette exclaimed, sending Sarah and Sookie scattering to find something to clean while Tara restocked the bar.

The shifter quirked an eyebrow and suspicion clouded his gaze. He glanced to the girls as they attempted to be busy and nonchalant, smirking as he asked, 'let me guess, talking about the wedding again were you?'

'Never,' Tara exclaimed, appearing appalled by the suggestion even as she hid a smile whilst she wiped the counter top, giggles echoing throughout the bar as Sarah and Sookie shared a glance.

He shook his head but couldn't help but smile. He knew that this was only the start; after the wedding, chatter about the big day would only amplify, weaving through the town like ivy.

'Come on Sam, you gotta get involved in this sometime. After all, you are a groomsman.'

'That may be so Tara, but I have a business to run, and right now you're on the clock and I need you to work.'

'Oh please, loosen up,' Sookie said, leaning against the bar beside him, 'it's not like we have any customers at the moment. Besides, it's not just the wedding we're talking about.'

'Oh yeah,' Tara said, a grin crossing her lips as she threw a tea towel over her shoulder, a hand on her hip, 'the Hen's and Buck's nights are tomorrow aren't they? Hope you boys have something exciting planned, because we're making it the wildest night of our meek little English girl's life.'

Sookie slapped a hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh as she read Tara's mind. Sarah's eyes darted between the girls, her stomach doing little flips. Her friends may have had a reasonably modest up-bringing in Bon Temps, but each had a devious streak that rivalled even Sarah's. The thought terrified her, especially when glimpses of her collage years flitted through her mind; she'd been one of many to volunteer as a guinea pig to a bartender-in-training-friend Mark. The often hilarious and occasionally raunchy adventures that had ensued were imprinted in her memory, and Sarah had no doubt that with Sookie, Tara and Lafayette in charge of prepping her Hen's night, by midnight they would be dancing on a table with feather-boas.

'Oh, and there's our tall, blond and handsome Buck,' Lafayette called with a smirk, pointing to the door with a spatula as Eric and Alcide sauntered in, laughing as they walked towards the bar. Eric paused to brush a searing kiss over Sarah's lips, whispering a quick, 'hello,' before handing off the suit bag he was holding to Sam.

'Don't you dare put a stain on that Merlotte,' he said, a smile on his lips as Sam carefully rested the bag over his shoulder, nodding as he clapped Eric on the arm. The owner of the best bar and grill in town may have been stern earlier, but he truly was honoured to be a part of the wedding.

'They got the suits now, Sarah honey. This shit is gettin' real!' Lafayette called as he disappeared into the kitchen for a moment, returning with a glass in hand, 'you sure you don't want to skip the 'I dos' and share with all of us instead?'

Sarah rolled her eye. She still wished that the man feared Eric just a little still, even if it were just enough to stop him from hitting on her soon to be husband.

'I'm very sure,' she said, turning back to Eric and snuggling into his embrace. She wasn't supposed to knock off until nine, but the bar was quiet and Sam gave her a smile while Sookie gave her a shove; obviously it was time for her to go home. She collected her bag, taking off her apron as she walked to the door. Her hand found Eric's, Alcide just ahead of them.

'You sleep well girl, we got a big night in store for you tomorrow,' Tara called as they reached the door, offering a wink when Sarah glanced back.

The drive was relaxed, Eric's hand never leaving Sarah's leg as they cruised back to Shreveport, talking about the suit fitting. Eric showed her the ties, specially made from the same material as the bridesmaid dresses to match. They were perfect, and Sarah couldn't stop smiling, even as they pulled into the driveway of their home.

As soon as the gate closed behind them, Sarah was whisked from the car and straight into Eric's arms, a wicked smile crossing his lips. 'There's something we have to practice,' he said, voice a delicious cross between a purr and a growl

'Don't we practice that enough already?' Sarah asked, not surprised to find herself breathless. Eric always seemed to have that effect on her.

'Never,' he said, the tips of his fangs pressed against his lips as his smile widened, 'but that's not what I was talking about, you naughty girl.'

'What then?' she asked as he carried her towards to door, a quirk in her brow as he shifted her slightly, still managing to hold her bridal style while he unlocked the–

Wait, Sarah thought, bridal style?

The realisation hit her with all the subtlety of a boulder and she stared up at him, gaze locked with his as the meaning finally hit her. 'You're–'

'Carrying you over the threshold,' he said, leaning down to place a tender kiss on her forehead as he gently pushed the door open with a toe, letting it swing wide before he took that final step into their home.

The door closed behind them, and Eric placed Sarah on her feet, allowing her to slide down his body. He pressed her against the hard planes of his torso, the beat of her heart echoing through him as if it were a shared rhythm. With their gazes locked, seconds turned to minutes as he bent down to enfold her deep in his arms, claiming her lips. She melted into his embrace, the languid caress of his mouth sending ripples right down to her toes that had her clutching at his shoulders.

He could sense her growing arousal, pulling back just before they reached their point of no return, despite the heady scents that filled his senses to the brim with delight.

'There's something I must show you first,' he said with a husky tinge to his words. He took her hand, leading her into the office. He perched her on the rich desk, the wood smooth beneath her legs. With a quick push of the mouse, the computer screen glowed to life, Eric opening the web browser in less than a blink of Sarah's eye. Eric wasted no time, his fingers flying across the keyboard, the clicks of the keys becoming one audible sound as webpage after webpage flashed on the screen before disappearing in a blur.

'Sorry, forgot to save it,' Eric offered as he continued to search, before his fingers finally stopped, hovering above the keys, 'ah, here.'

I leaned closer, 'what are they?'

'They're symbols often associated with astronomy and in some cases, early science. Occasionally they are referenced in studies related to alchemy. They represent the elements,' Eric explained, taking her hands, turning them until he could see her inner arms, the beginnings of the marks that had first appeared the night before. 'It's still too early to tell but we might be on the right track. After all, there's no explanation anywhere as to how these symbols came to be, other than what reads like theorising expressed as fact.'

'How did you come to that conclusion?'

'I'm old,' he said, 'I know when humans are trying to explain something they can't truly understand.'

Sarah gave him a playful punch on the arm. 'You're marrying a human, remember?'

'Of course,' he said, smirking as he ran his fingers through her hair, enjoying the content smile that crossed her lips at the action, 'the difference is that I'm marrying an intelligent one.'

She smiled before glancing down at her arms. Could the pale lines etched into her skin really be a match to the symbols still displayed on the computer screen? It felt like a step forward in discovering the origin of her abilities, but even as she felt as though they were making some progress, more questions filled her mind.

'Eric, those people who know about me,' she started, 'I know we've pondered the idea that I might lose my powers when you turn me, but what if they get stronger? This person who's calling me the firebug, what if they perceive me as a threat?'

'They'd have to find you first, Sarah, and that's not going to happen. We're already tracking them down, and they don't know who you are. They just know that somewhere, there's a girl who has powers that they doesn't understand.'

'That's my point though. Imagine if I had not only your strength and your ability to heal, but my abilities to control the elements. If humans can still fear vampires simply because they are stronger, how will vampires feel about one of their own that can burn them to death with nothing more than bare hands?'

He lent back in his chair. 'Sarah, you're thinking about this too much.'

'Am I, Eric?' she asked, sliding off the desk to stand, resisting the urge to cross her arms. 'Why don't you think about it? Even without the strength and speed that you have, I can match you in a fight. You may be able to walk away from that without even a dent on your ego, but most vampires, especially ones who are getting well into their hundreds, aren't going to like a newbie who can serve them up extra crispy.'

'Sarah,' he said, reaching for her, clearly relieved when she allowed him to take her hand, 'if you want to be turned, I'm going to turn you. If they're going to be scared little bitches that's their own problem, not ours.'

'Why aren't you taking this seriously?'

'Because there's nothing to worry about,' he said, gaze searing in its intensity, 'they will never get their hands on you, not matter what they do to terrorize us into surrendering to them.'

She pulled away. 'How can you say that?' she asked, avoiding his hand as he reached for her again, 'even the idea of my powers being retained after turning could be enough to turn vampires against us, and if they can't get to me, they'll find someone else to get to, someone that we can't always protect. So yes,' she said turning for the door, 'it is something to worry about.'

He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the disappointment that flooded from her, disappointment aimed at him. 'Sarah, wait. Where are you going?' Eric asked, standing.

'For a run,' she said, heading for their bedroom, 'I need to clear my head.'

Jake stuck his head out of his room as Sarah stalked down the corridor, his smile fading when he saw the fire that danced in her gaze.

'Sis?'

'I don't want to talk about it,' she said, rushing past him. She closed the door to her and Eric's bedroom, wanting the message to be clear that she did not want to be disturbed as she quickly changed. She didn't bother changing from her Merlotte's shirt but donned leggings and runners as quickly as she could manage. She jogged through the house and into the darkness. She had her headphones in, the volume up a little louder than usual as she set a steady pace that carried her away from their home. She knew he could be irrational when it came to her, but to conclude that nothing would make him give in to what could be a terrifying adversary, even if their friends were in danger, scared her.

You're the same when it comes to him, a voice whispered in her mind, flashes of burning buildings and wolves assaulting her mind, a reminder of the events that had played out not quite one year ago.

You would do anything to protect him.

She shook her head, refusing to believe that she would allow her friends to be attacked by someone just to keep her and Eric safe, but at the same time she realised something; Eric was a thousand year old vampire. When it came to her, he could be a territorial pain in the ass that would beat down even his best friend just for looking sideways at her. His emotions, his thoughts, were clouded by the idea that any harm could come to the woman he loved under his watch. What he said may have been what he felt, but in the end he would defend those dear to him ferociously and to the death, even if it meant sacrificing himself.

She just had to make him see that he could not stop her if she felt she needed to do the same to protect him and those that she loved.

She was still a little mad at him, but as she turned toward home, she felt the tension easing off of her shoulders. She had hated leaving after a fight, but she knew that with the time they'd had too cool off and think, he'd understand that maybe waiting would be best. The plan had been to turn her shortly after the wedding, but she could wait, especially if it meant keeping extra material from the stranger that was spreading rumours until they discovered their identity and silenced them. After all, she knew that prejudice was as infectious as hysteria. All it would take is one whisper that there was a vampire that could kill other vampires with a touch of a hand, and she would be hunted, no matter how many strings Eric pulled with his endless list of contacts.

She took a breath, relaxing a little as she continued to shift through the concerned thoughts in her mind until, slowly, her head became clearer little, by little. She focused on the feel of the cooled air as it filled her lungs the bead of sweat that rolled down her temple as her heart pounded in her chest. Music still filled her ears and she let the familiar beat carry her along the side of the road.

She allowed her eyes to close for a second as she took a deep breath, knowing she was nearly home, her feet falling in a steady rhythm as she began to slow, wanting to cool down a little.

With a thud she slammed into something hard, her eyes jerking open as she stumbled backwards, catching herself before she fell on her ass in front of the man. She ripped her headphones out of her ears, red flushing over her cheeks as she looked up at the vampire she'd just barreled into.

'I am so sorry,' she gushed as she looked him up and down, not finding even a rumple on his clothes or a strand of dark wavy hair out of place, 'I wasn't looking where I was going.'

A small smile lit his features. His teeth were perfect and white, his smile hiding any emotions that Sarah may have discerned. She took in his features. He had a straight nose, perfectly proportioned to a strong jaw and defined cheekbones. His dark eyes seemed to swirl like a storm rested in their depths. He was striking not only in his features but in his attire; there was a militaristic flair in his jacket, his crisply ironed pants and perfectly polished shoes, yet he held a bearing that Sarah almost considered regal, his posture perfect, stance seemingly relaxed.

Most women would melt at the sight of him – he certainly was handsome – but Sarah saw something in his gaze that threw her, something that had her preparing to bolt if needed, despite that fact that he looked like most of the vampiric regulars of Fangtasia.

That smile remained on his lips, widening ever so slightly to bare a hint of fang, the barest hint of an accent in his voice as he said, 'interesting indeed.'

Sarah felt a gust, the hair that had escaped her ponytail brushing her cheek as the vampire disappeared into the night sky, his words seeming to echo around her. Shivers tingled down her spine. Glad to be close to home, she sprinted back to the house, her heart pounding so loudly in her chest that Eric instantly rushed from the office, pulling her into his arms. She held his waist so tight that a mortal man would have squeaked, but Eric merely absorbed the tight embrace as he brushed his fingers through her hair.

She looked up, the concern in his intense gaze palpable as he cupped her face in his hands.

'What happened?'

'Nothing,' she breathed, trying to calm herself down, 'I just got spooked by this guy on the way home.'

'What did he look like?'

Sarah explained, quickly adding that Eric wouldn't be able to find him, not when he'd flown away, making it impossible to track him by scent.

Fangs flicked out, menacing as he growled. 'What did he do?'

'Nothing,' she said, 'I just bumped into him when I was running and he just said something weird. I don't even know why it worried me so much.'

Eric led her into the office sitting her on the desk as he had earlier, but this time he sat beside her, hand rubbing her back in slow circles. 'Tell me what he said.'

'Interesting indeed.'

'And?'

'That was it. That was all he said from the time I bumped into him to the time he disappeared,' she said, shaking her head as she looked up at him, 'I don't understand. Does this mean that the rumours have hit Shreveport? Could he have known about my powers just by bumping into me?'

'No,' he said, tucking a few stray strands of hair behind her ear, his voice reassuring, 'I'm sure all he was thinking about was how fortunate he was to have such a beautiful woman run into him.'

She saw the concern that remained in his gaze, but he was right. Maybe she was over-reacting.

'Look, while you were gone I called Sophie-Anne to see if she had discovered anything on the source of the rumours. As far as she can tell, they originate from Arkansas, as that's as far back as she could trace them. She hasn't heard anything new either, just the same information repeated over and over, so whoever is spreading the information doesn't know anything new either.'

He was right again. Sarah took a deep breath, her nerves calming more as he continued to rub her back. 'Okay, I guess I'm just a little high strung.'

'You're trying to discover the origins of your powers, worrying about word getting out that you're the one who dealt the deserved retribution against the Newlins and their idiotic followers and that vampires will rally against you if they discover your powers, all in the week leading up to the wedding you've been planning for the whole year,' he said, a smile lighting his lips, 'don't blame yourself for being a little stressed; we are both letting a few things get the better of us, but let's try and put it aside for now. All I want you to think about is that in just a couple more days, you'll be walking down the aisle in all of your stunning beauty, and I'll be the one lucky enough to be waiting for you at the end.'

A smile erupted on her lips as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her from the desk, her feet dangling from the ground. She couldn't hold him closer if she tried, so she just squeezed with all her might, feeling the smile on his lips as he placed a kiss on her neck, her cheek and her nose before finding his way to her lips, his smile never faltering.

He was right: the vampire was just like any man who saw a woman in tight pants. The encounter was nothing more than a display of interest before he realised that Sarah was covered in another vampire's scent and bearing his marks, therefore making her off limits.

They were still grinning even as Eric placed her on her feet, still holding her as he reached into his pocket for his buzzing phone. He answered, 'Bill, what can I do for you?'

Sarah couldn't hear the voice on the other line, but the changing expression on Eric's face told her enough. When Eric hung up, he looked down at her. 'We need to go back to Merlotte's,' he said, taking her hand, 'there's a vampire lurking there matching the description you gave me before, and he's not there for a bite to eat.'